Melendez and Sanchez earned the “Fight of the Night,” Dodson won “Knockout of the Night” and Ferguson picked up “Submission of the Night” honors.

UFC President Dana White announced the winners at the night’s post-event news conference, which MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) attended.

UFC 166 took place at Houston’s Toyota Center. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and Facebook.

To say that Melendez (22-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) and Sanchez (24-6 MMA, 13-6 UFC) is merely the “Fight of the Night” would probably be an understatement. As of now, it’s arguably the “Fight of the Year.” And UFC commentator Joe Rogan, immediately after the fight, had already anointed it the best fight he’d ever seen. Melendez bloodied up Sanchez in the first round with an elbow that sliced him open above his left eye. That cut would be an issue for the doctors throughout the fight – but not for Sanchez, who continually said he was fine to continue when it was looked at. Likely needing a finish to win the fight in the third, Sanchez nearly got it. He dropped Melendez and went after him. But Melendez survived and took the unanimous decision. Aside from the massive amounts of blood from Sanchez’s head, the fight featured many wild combinations with the two slinging and swinging at each other. What it may have sometimes lacked in technical mastery, it made up for in entertainment, without question.

Dodson (15-6 MMA, 4-1 UFC) returned for the first time since a flyweight title fight loss to Demetrious Johnson in January, and he shut down UFC newcomer Darrell Montague (13-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) in a big way. He drilled him in the first round, but didn’t move in for the kill, instead staying patient. That paid off for him moments later when he hit Montague with a left, sending him face first to the canvas.

Ferguson (14-3 MMA, 4-1 UFC) returned from a lengthy injury layoff and showed virtually no cage rust in stopping Mike Rio (9-3 MMA, 1-2 UFC) in the first round. Ferguson landed a short left hook that had Rio wobbling, and he then went right after a D’Arce choke, locking it up with relative ease on the ground to force the tap.

From Our Partners

The Latest

As the UFC 189 tour made its last stop in Dublin, featherweight champ Jose Aldo was met with a torrent of abuse from the Irish fans. It might have been unpleasant, but it might also have been just what he needed.